Surveyor&#39;s marker with information container



March 31, 1970 u-rz 3,503,163

SURVEYOR'S MARKER WITH INFORMATION CONTAINER Filed Sept. 27, 1968 2Sheets-Sheet l Fig.

Charles L. 1.0!:

INVENTOR.

March 31, 1970 c. LUTZ 3,503,163

SURVEYOR'S MARKER WITH INFORMATION CONTAINER Filed Sept. 27, .1968 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6

l I Fig.5 7 '53 I08 7 Char/es L. Lufz 1 N VEN TOR.

@W E ml WyZfW United States Patent 3,503,163 SURVEYORS MARKER WITHINFORMATION CONTAINER Charles L. Lutz, 8 N. Main St., Bel Air, Md. 21014Filed Sept. 27, 1968, Ser. No. 763,086 Int. Cl. E01f 9/02; E04h 13/00US. Cl. 52-103 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hollowed stakehaving a laterally defiectable anchor device at the lower end thereofencloses a document container. Sealing members are fastened to theupward end of the stake to prevent water leakage therein. A marker ruleattachment may be connected to the stake, the rule extends verticallyupwardly to facilitate remote sightings.

The present invention relates to marker devices and more particularly toa hollowed stake marker having a document container sealed therein.

The prior art includes a number of hollowed stake devices permitting theinsertion of documents therein. Such devices have been designed withstraight shank portions which permit the stake to become loosened underthe influence of external forces so that a permanent installation cannotbe readily achieved. Further, certain prior art devices of this type areso constructed as to permit the easy removal of a hollowed stake cap byunauthorized persons to allow access to the documents contained there-The present invention includes a hollow stake portion with a laterallydefiectable anchor structure attached to the lower end thereof. Afterthe present stake is driven into the ground or other structure, theanchor assembly is actuated to a gripping position. The anchoring of thestake virtually ensures a permanent installation thereof. Further, asecurity cap member having a slot therein of special configurationcovers the hollowed stake and requires a special tool to remove the cap.Still further the present invention contemplates the utilization of amarker plate which may be conveniently attached to the top cap member ofthe stake for serving to identify a particular stake. A marker ruleattachment may be connected to the stake for permitting remote sightingwithout the necessity of hand holding a rule.

These together with other objects and advantages which Will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of the present marker stakeillustrating the interior components thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a disassembled perspective view illustrating the componentsof the present marker stake.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing a security cap device forcovering the hollowed stake portion.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating particular stake anchoringassemblies.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a marker rule attachment.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view of the attachment illustrating theinterior components thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view along a plane pass ing throughsection line 77 in FIGURE 6.

Referring specifically to the drawings and more par ticularly to FIGURES1 and 2, a right cylindrical hollowed marker stake is generally denotedby reference numeral 10 and is seen to include a document container 12concentrically disposed within the interior of the stake.

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This container by way of example may be fabricated from glass, metal,plastic or the like. A document or microfilm strip 14 is rolled up andinserted within the container. As will be noted from the figures, thelower end of the container is closed while the upper end 16 is openedfor permitting the insertion and removal of a document therein. Acomposite cap member 18 serves as a stopper for container 12 as well asa cover for the upper opened end of the stake. In particular, the capmember 18 is seen to include a circumferentially threaded disk member 20having a stopper or gasket 22 attached to the lower, circular-planarsurface thereof by means of a suitable fastener 24. The stopper 22 ispreferably fabricated from Neoprene or other chemically inertelastomeric material.

The head portion 26 of the marker stake 10 includes a hollowedfrusto-conical wall portion 28 terminating at a lower end thereof in anoptional annular concrete retainer ring 30 which is advantageouslyemployed when the marker stake is embedded within poured concrete. Afirst annular rib member 32 extends laterally from the wall surface 28at the upper end thereof and integrally mounts a second annular rib 34along the upper portion thereof. As will be noted, the second rib 34 isof larger diameter than rib 32 so that an annular step-like surface isproduced therebetween for purposes of increasing the anchoring effect ofthe stake within a soil or concrete medium. An annular V-shaped groove33 between ribs 32 and 34 increases the effect.

The upward end 40 of the annular rib 34 includes an axial bore 38extending perpendicularly therethrough. Thus as will be noted fromFIGURE 2, an interior annular shoulder 36 is produced by theintersection of this bore and the annular rib 32. The wall surface ofthe bore 38 is threaded so as to engage the threaded capping member 18therein. Shoulder 36 serves as a sealing mechanical stop for the cappingmember 18.

A tubular member 42 serves as an intermediate portion of the stake 10.As will be noted by referring to FIGURE 1, this tubular section 42 maybe frictionally retained within the stake head member 26, therebypermitting relatively easy assembly and disassembly of the marker stakewhen the same is not in use. However, the upper portion of the tubularmember 42 may be threaded in a manner to mate an interiorly threadedsurface of stake head 26.

Attention is invited to FIGURE 2 which illustrates a deflecting cammember 44 employed in conjunction with an anchor member 45 as explainedhereinafter. The particular structure of a deflecting cam member 44includes a paraboloidal nose portion 46 which extends to a transverseplanar trailing end surface 48, the latter integrally mounting acylindrically threaded shank portion 50- of smaller diameter. Fourequally angularly disposed camming surfaces or grooves 52 extendlongitudinally from the interior of threaded shank portion 50 to theexternal surface of the paraboloidal portion 46, along an intermediatelength thereof. The camming member 44 is attached to the tubular section42 by means of mating threaded surfaces 53 in the interior lower end ofthe tubular section 42 is retained in abutting relation with shoulder 48of the cam member 44, the latter shoulder being produced at theintersection of the paraboloidal cam member portion and the threadedshank portion associated therewith.

The anchor member 45 is adapted for concentric insertion within thetubular section 42 so that it loosely concentrically engages the cammember 44. The particular structure of the anchor member 45 includes ahollow cylindrical body 54 terminating in a solid upper end 58. Theopposite end of the cylindrical body 54 includes four equally angularlydisplaced tine elements 56' extending longitudinally outwardly. Eachtine element is adapted to loosely contact a respective camming surface52 in the cam member 44.

In operation of the device, the marker stake is prelimi-.

narily assembled so as to include cam member 44, anchor member 45,tubular section 42, and the stake head section 26, as seen in FIGURE 2.So assembled, the marker stake is driven into the ground or otherstructural medium. Once the stake has been driven to a proper depth, arod (not shown) is lowered into tubular section 42 until the lower endof the rod engages the upper surface 58 of the anchor member 45. Thisrod is then driven or rammed downwardly by a suitable impact tool (notshown) thereby,

causing lateral deflection of tines 56 as they more intimately engagetheir respective camming surfaces 52 in cam member 44 as shown inFIGURE 1. Subsequently, the rod is removed and the document container 12attached to its associated cap member 18 is then threadably insertedwithin the stake head section 26.

Insofar as it is generally desired that the cap member 18 be secured tothe marker stake in a manner preventing the tampering thereof, thepresent cap member 18 includes a special socket therein which permitsthe removal thereof only by a special tool (not shown) possessed by anauthorized individual. Referring particularly to FIGURE 3, this specialsocket will be seen to include a triangular recess 60 and a rod-likeprojection 62 extending upwardly.

through the center of the triangular recess. Insofar as the cap member18 is flush mounted within the head section 26 of the marker stake, onlya special tool mating with the recess and rod projection configurationmay be employed to unscrew cap member 18. Thus, documents containedwithin the marker stake are retained therein with a high degree ofsecurity.

In several applications, it is desirable to include an indiciacontaining marker plate on the upward or top surface 40 of the stake. Byway of example, such indicia may be in the form of numbers to denote aparticular stake or may include personal information if the stake isutilized to mark a cemetery plot.

Referring to FIGURE 2, a typical marker plate is exemplified by acircular disk 64 suitably attached to the cap member 18, the disk beinga diameter equal to that of the annular rib 34 as seen in FIGURE 1 andwhen installed is flush with the top surface 40 of annular rib 34. Inorder to increase the securement'of marker plate 64, a threaded bore 66is formed perpendicularly inwardly of the surface 40. An aperture 68 isformed in the marker plate 64 so that when the marker plate ispositioned on the stake head section 26, the aperture 68 and threadedbore 66 coincide. A suitable lock screw 70 passes through aperture 68,as seen in FIGURE 1. Further securement is rendered by fastening a rivet71 between the plate 64 and rib member 34.

It is noted that although the previously discussed anchor member 45 andassociated deflecting cam member 44 and tubular section 42 are describedin terms of generally right cylindrical members, other configurations ofdifferent geometrical crosssections are possible. For example, a similarembodiment for anchor and cam members is illustrated in FIGURE 4. Inthis particular embodiment, a tubular member 72 of rectangular or squarecross-section is employed, instead of the right cylindrical tubularsection 42 of the previous embodiment. To cooperate with the tubularsections 72, a deflecting cam member 74 having a pyramidal nose portion76 is employed and resembles the cam member 44 of the previousembodiment with the exception of the nose thereof. It is noted that thesecond mentioned cam member 74 includes camming surfaces thereinidentical with the camming surfaces 52 of the first mentioned cam member44. The trailing end of the pyramidal nose portion 76 integrally mountsa stem section 80 of rectangular or square cross-section. The anchormember 75 utilized in connection with tubular section 72 generallyresembles the anchor member 45 of the first embodiment with theexception of a square or rectangular cross-section instead of a circularsection.

.4 The operation of the second embodiment is identical to that of thefirst so that a ramming rod driven against anchor member causesincreasing intimate contact between anchor member 75 and cam member 74so as t produce lateral deflection of the tines 86 as they are caused toride across their respective camming surfaces.

By employing the paraboloidal cam member 44 and its associated anchormember 45 and cylindrical tubular section 42, as shown in FIGURE 1, themarker stake may be reused by unscrewing the tubular section 42 from thecam member 44 and lifting the tubular section 42 and head I section 26upwardly out from the ground or outwardly from a structural medium. Aswill be appreciated, the permanent attachment between the cam andtubular section of the second embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 4, preventeasy removal of tubular section 72. Thus, in applications whereby markerstakes are removed and reused with some frequency, the first markerstake may be preferable.

Further, the basic marker stake may be fabricated in a form deleting theanchor means and instead including a pointed tip. This would allow oneto drive the marker stake into a utility pole or the like. A documentcan be secured within the stake to identify the exact geographicallocation of the pole.

During the normal surveyors routine, it is often necessary for anassistant to maintain a marker or surveyors rule in a vertical positionat a particular spot while the surveyor observes or sights the rule froma distant location. The present invention contemplates an attachmentshown in FIG. 5 and denoted by reference numeral 88, the attachmentbeing connected with a marker stake which retains a marker rule in avertical position without the necessity of manual assistance. Referringto FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the attachment is seen to include athreaded member 90 adapted to be screwed within threaded bore 38 in thehead portion of the marker stake. The threaded member 90 is integrallyconnected with a threaded bolt portion 92 which extends upwardly fortermination in a spherical portion 94. A second spherical portion 96 isdisposed in underlying engagement with the first mentioned sphericalportion and the second spherical portion includes an aperture 98 therebypermitting the bolt portion 92 to pass therethrough with suflicientclearance. The second spherical portion 96 extends laterally outwardlyto four integrally attached pedestal legs 100 which rest on the uppersurface 40 of the stake head 26. An arcuate jamnut 102 having a centralbore therein is positioned in underlying engagement with the secondspherical portion 96 and permits an intermediate section of bolt 92 topass therethrough. A knurled kno'b 104 is concentrically disposed alonga lower section of bolt 92, the upper portion of the knurled knob 104including a boss extension which is adapted to engage the lower surfaceof jamnut 102. The knurled knob provides a means for fixing a set levelas hereinafter described. A cross plate member 108 more clearly shown inFIG. 7 is disposed in parallel overlying spaced relation with the pedes--tal legs 100. Each end portion of the cross plate member includes aleveling screw 110 terminating at a lower end thereof in a ball element112, the latter contacting an underlying portion of an associatedpedestal leg 100. A knurled knob is concentrically disposed along thelength 4 of each screw 110 and by rotating the knurled knob 114,

the displacement of screw 110 is varied which in turn affects theangular inclination of the cross plate member 108. The object of theseadjustments is to position the cross plate member in a perfectlyhorizontal position. This may be checked by observing the bubble in across level 118 which is received within a mating recess 116 formedwithin the top surface of cross plate 108. Once a perfectly horizontaldisposition of the cross plate member 108 is achieved, the knurled knob104 is tightened until bearing engagement between the first and secondspherical portions 96 and 92 respectively is achieved.

A slotted cylindrical cap member 122 clearly shown in FIG. 5 partiallyencloses the central portion of cross plate member 108. The cap memberincludes rectangular apertures 124 therein for permitting passage of thecross plate member elements therethrough. The apertures are formed ofsufficient size so that a view of the level bubble 120 is readilyavailable. The upper surface 122 of the cap member integrally mounts asemi-spherical projection 126 which in turn integrally attaches anelongated generally cylindrical rod or marker rule 128, typically havinga length of from six to eight feet. A slide member 130 is positionedalong the length of a cylindrical rod to indicate a particular levelabove the ground plane.

In operation, the attachment 88 is quickly screwed Within the bore inthe stake head. Next, the attachment is leveled by means of theaforementioned assembly similar in nature to the surveyors transitleveling assembly. The leveling operation is facilitated by means of across level. Finally, a slide member along the length of the marker ruleis adjusted to indicate a predetermined height above the ground plane.The slide member may be viewed from a distant location by a surveyorutilizing a transit. By employing the present attachment, a singlesurveyor may set the attachment then move to a remote location and takesightings without the necessity of an assistant who usually holds amarker rule while a surveyor takes sightings.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A marker device comprising a hollowed stake section, a documentcontainer removably inserted within the stake section, means for sealingan upper end of said stake section, anchor means connected to the lowerend of the stake section to complete a drivable unit, the anchor meanscomprising a deflecting cam member attached to the lower stake end, saidcam member having a plurality of camming surfaces extendinglongitudinally therethrough, and a tubular body disposed in the lowerstake section, the tubular body having laterally defiectable tineelements positioned to contact the camming surfaces, the tine elementbeing outwardly deformed by the camming surfaces in response toapplication of a driving force exerted against the tubular body, whereinthe sealing means comprises a hollowed and downwardly taperingfrusto-conical portion connected in axially spaced relation to the upperend of the stake section, the conical portion having an annularly formededge, serving to increase the anchoring of the marker device in asurrounding material, the top of the frusto-conical section appendingupwardly to an axially spaced enlarged annular rib portion, and a secondenlarged annular rib portion appending in upwardly stepped relation tothe first rib portion, an annular shoulder being formed by the undersideof the second rib portion for packing a surrounding material therebyrendering support to the marker device.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 together with an annular grooveformed around the intersection between the first and second annular ribportions to allow the packing of surrounding material therein whichincreases the anchoring of the marker device.

3. The device set forth in claim 2 wherein the sealing means includes anaxially formed bore disposed in registry with the interior of the stakesection, an annular opening having a greater diameter than the bore andbeing accessible from the upper end of the sealing means, stopper meansfor the document container being received in the opening for closing anopening in the container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 704,656 7/1902 McBee 22039958,127 5/1910 Horrud 5216O 2,038,962 4/1936 Schulthess 52103 461,75310/1891 Hall 52160 LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner C. E. PHILLIPS,Assistant Examiner US. 01. X.R. 23 74; 248- 43

